AgDay Daily Recap -February 22, 2013

GOOD MORNING I'M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. A REGION DESPERATE FOR MOISTURE IS GETTING IT IN THE FORM OF SNOW AND RAIN THIS WEEK.

CROP WATCH:

THE TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SAYS ITS STILL EXPECTING A BELOW NORMAL WHEAT CROP DESPITE RECENT RAINS. AGRONISTS THERE SAY FARMERS HAD TROUBLE WITH STAND ESTABLISHMENT IN THE FALL. THEY CALL STANDS SKIMPY AND WEAK. WHILE SOME AREAS LOOK PRETTY GOOD, THE EXTENSION AGRONOMIST IS WORRIED PARTS OF THE WESTERN AND NORTHERN PLAINS MIGHT NOT MAKE A CROP.AND FROM JOHN MORGAN IN MISSOURI--THAT'S TYNE MORGAN--OUR NATIONAL REPORTER'S FATHER,HE SAYS HIS PART OF WESTERN MISSOURI GOT SIX INCHES OF SNOW FROM THIS STORM IN JUST A FEW HOURS. THE GOVERNOR DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY BECAUSE FLAKES WERE COMING DOWN AT A RATE OF TWO INCHES AN HOUR.

NORTH DAKOTA HAY:

AS SNOW COVERS PASTURES, U.S. CATTLMEN WILL BE DIGGING INTO HAY SUPPLIES. NORTH DAKOTA, MOST RECENTLY KNOWN OIL, COAL AND WHEAT, IS NOW SHIPPING LITTERALLY TONS OF HAY OUT OF STATE. ALFALFA IS BEING TRUCKED SOUTH TO WYOMING, COLORADO, KANSAS, NEBRASKA AND EVEN TEXAS...HELPING HUNDREDS OF HERDS GET THROUGH THE WINTER. CLIFF NAYLOR FROM AGDAY AFFILIATE KFYR REPORTS.

BSE UPGRADE:

IT'S GOOD NEWS FOR NOT ONLY CATTLE FEED, BUT THE LEVEL OF RISK FOR BSE. THE WORLD ORINIZATION FOR ANIMAL HEALTH IS RECOMMENDING THE U-S B-S-E- RISK STATUS BE UPGRADED. O-I-E SUGGESTS THE STATUS BE UPGRADED FROM CONTROLLED TO NEGLIGIBLE RISK.AG SECRETARY TOM VILSACK SAYS THIS IMPROVEMENT SUPPORTS THE DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS TO INCREASE EXPORTS OF U-S BEEF AND BEEF PRODUCTS.

USDA OUTLOOK:

THE USDA HOSTED IT'S ANNAUL AGRICULTURAL OUTLOOK FORUM THURSDAY. THE AGENCY'S LEAD ECONOMISTS SAYS HE EXPECTS PLANTED ACRES OF BOTH CORN AND SOYBEANS TO LOWER.

MILK PRODUCTION:

THE USDA ALSO RELEASED IT'S MILK PRODUCTION NUMBERS FROM 2012. PRODUCERS AND THEIR COWS SET A RECORD LAST YEAR WITH 200 BILLION POUNDS. THAT MORE THAN 2% HIGHER THAN 2011. EVEN IN A TOUGH FEED YEAR, PRODUCTION PER COW CLIMBED 361 POUNDS TO NEARLY 21-THOUSAND 700 POUNDS PER ANIMAL. USDA SAYS THAT'S UP NEARLY 16% SINCE 2003. COW NUMBERS WERE RELATIVELY FLAT.

TAX TIPS:

WITH HIGH LAND PRICES AND SO MUCH CAPITAL REQUIRED TO FARM, THE LEGACY OF THE FAMILY'S OPERATION IS A GROWING CONCERN. IN TODAY'S TAX TIPS, PAUL NEIFFER TALKS ABOUT WHAT LAND OWNERS AND PRODUCERS SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NOW, SO THE LEGACY OF THE FARM IS THERE FOR YEARS TO COME.

PROFIT BRIEFING:

THE BEAN MARKET IS WATCHING THE SOUTH AMERICAN CROP CLOSELY. CAN THEY RALLY WITHOUT HELP FROM CORN AND WHEAT? HERE TO SORT-OUT THE NUMBERS IS PROFARMER EDITOR CHIP FLORY AND SENIOR MARKET ANALYST BRIAN GRETE. THEY JOIN
US FROM THE PRO FARMER STUDIOS.

PYGMIE GOATS:

GROWING UP CATTLE, SHEEP AND PIGS WERE THE POPULAR SHOW ANIMALS AMONG YOUNGSTERS PARTICIPATING IN LIVESTOCK SHOWS. WHILE STILL POPULAR, TODAY THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE CASE. IN LOUISIANA A NUMBER OF 4-H AND FFA MEMBERS ARE SHOWING PYGMY GOATS. LSU AGCENTER CORRESPONDENT TOBIE BLANCHARD VISITED WITH A TEENAGER THAT'S RAISING AND BREEDING THESE PINT SIZED PROJECTS. THE LSU AGCENTER'S STATE LIVESTOCK SHOW HAD A GOOD TURNOUT THIS YEAR. ABOUT 2-THOUSAND YOUNGERSTERS PARTICIPATED IN THE COMPETITION.

FOOD CONTAMINATION:

IN FOOD AND YOUR FAMILY, SEVERAL FORMER EMPLOYEES ARE FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH A 2009 SALMONELLA OUTBREAK AT THE PEANUT CORPORATION OF AMERICA.

FAST FOOD DIET:

SOME RESEARCHERS ARE PUZZLED BY THE LATEST SURVEY SHOWING A DROP IN THE PERCENTAGE OF CALORIES FROM FAST FOOD.

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